There are so many things that parents worry about, but most moms and dads never suspect that their child might end up with autism. Due to the controversy over the myth that vaccines cause autism, the disorder has been in the headlines more often in recent years. This means that it’s slowly becoming yet another issue for new parents to worry about.
It turns out that there is reason for concern. In 2018, the CDC announced that one in every 59 children will be diagnosed with autism. The disorder can be hard to diagnose, so concerned parents should seek professional help.
The Warning Signs of Autism: What to Look For
Sometimes, a parent may notice that something seems a bit off with their child, but they might not know what they should be looking for specifically. Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning that one child’s symptoms may differ from another’s. However, there are some warning signs to check for.
These include:
- Not pointing at things to show interest by 14 months old.
- Not responding to their name being called by 12 months old.
- Avoiding eye contact or other general anti-social behavior.
- Demonstrating a lack of empathy for other children or pets.
- Lacking the ability to express their own feelings.
- Choosing not to speak or generally struggling with language skills.
- Getting upset when going through normal, everyday changes, such as going from home to the grocery store.
- Seeming spaced out or talking about random things that aren’t related to the current topic.
- Flapping their hands, spinning in circles or acting out other repetitive behaviors.
- Not pretending or using their imaginations the way most young children do.
These are just a few of the early signs of autism, but it’s important to remember that each of these symptoms or behaviors can have other causes. Some children develop later than others, and plenty of healthy children demonstrate unusual behaviors at times. Rather than worrying unnecessarily, parents should visit the pediatrician to discuss the possibility of autism as soon as possible. That way, there will be time to come up with a treatment and lifestyle plan to help the child throughout the developing years.